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This is an example of a small tropical courtyard full sun garden in Perth with decking and a water feature.

Three generations of one family live in a semi-detached house on an urban hillcrest that drops off sharply in their backyard. They wanted an enclosed, courtyard-like rear garden that would enable them to use as much of the slope as possible and provide some privacy on a tightly constrained site. Wood structures occupy significantly more area than the planting beds on this small, sloping lot. These structures perform multiple storage functions and create distinct areas – the dining area, the bridge to the shed, the stepped-down ‘secret garden’ at the rear with a Venus Dogwood tree and bench seating, and several planted areas. Vibrantly painted slats accent the natural-finish boards in the cedar fence, ensuring that there is colour in the garden year round. Between the side walkway and the rear entry a half-storey below, a balustrade with angled slats organizes the accent colours into a spectrum. From the interior of the house, the chromatic shift in the slats and the spaces between them create visual effects that change with the viewing point.

A SMALL GARDEN PACKED WITH CHARACTER

Yorkshire Gardens

Here’s another project recently finished by our landscaping team. Although this is a fairly small back garden we have created a visually exciting space with numerous areas of interest. A modest stone patio provides a good sized area for seating or dining. We used a variety of natural stone slabs in various sizes and colours in order to add texture and really brighten the space. Not only does stone look great in gardens, but this natural material is also extremely durable and long lasting. Flower beds have been used to edge the garden and are filled with a Ox-eye daisies, Yarrows and small shrubs to create a colourful surround. Potted plants are lined along the patio and add some greenery to the slatted fence. An asymetric deck leads your eye across the garden with a small pond nestles neatly below. Surrounded by natural stone and beautiful foliage this gives the garden a rustic look. The grey eco deck contrasts with natural materials helping to add a real contemporary edge. Finally the garden is finished with steps leading down to the circular lawn. This garden may be small but it’s definitely packed with plenty of character.

Garden for a barn conversion

Joanne Alderson Design

Modern courtyard garden for a barn conversion designed by Jo Alderson Phillips @ Joanne Alderson Design, Built by Tom & the team at TS Landscapes & photographed by James Wilson @ JAW Photography

Rosemary Beach- Gulf front Home

Grand Floridian Builders, Inc.

Design ideas for a large tropical courtyard partial sun formal garden in Miami with a garden path and decking.

Moraga Country Club Small Frontyard

Garden Lights Landscape and Pool Development Inc.

Steve Lambert, Winner Beautification Award for Small Landscape Design - Build Small Country-club Project, with courtyard deck, low maintenance, Bitter root walls,

Clovelly

Harrison's Landscaping

Courtyard style garden with exposed concrete and timber cabana. The swimming pool is tiled with a white sandstone, This courtyard garden design shows off a great mixture of materials and plant species. Courtyard gardens are one of our specialties. This Garden was designed by Michael Cooke Garden Design. Effective courtyard garden is about keeping the design of the courtyard simple. Small courtyard gardens such as this coastal garden in Clovelly are about keeping the design simple. The swimming pool is tiled internally with a really dark mosaic tile which contrasts nicely with the sandstone coping around the pool. The cabana is a cool mixture of free form concrete, Spotted Gum vertical slats and a lined ceiling roof. The flooring is also Spotted Gum to tie in with the slats. Photos by Natalie Hunfalvay

猫と暮らす中庭のある家

猫と建築社

猫を安心して遊ばせることが出来る中庭。ウッドデッキ、モルタル、芝、土など様々な素材で五感を刺激し、室内飼いの猫たちのストレスを軽減。木登りしたり走り回ったり隠れたりと本能的な行動を促すこともまた環境エンリッチメントの向上につながっている。程よい間隔のルーバーフェンスは猫の脱走を防止しつつ、猫たちが外を眺めて楽しむことも出来る。

Adams Street, Denver, CO

LAND BY DESIGN

Corten steel sculpture, Corten steel firepit, wood trellis, wood pergola, raised Trex deck, Outdoor dining, Outdoor living, boulder water feature, granite chip, concrete edging Corten steel focal point.

University Avenue in Palo Alto

User

This home was not even visible from the street because of the overgrown and neglected landscape. There was no obvious entrance to the front door, and the garden area was surprisingly spacious once the over grown brush was removed. We added an arbored and walled patio in the rear garden, near the kitchen, for morning coffee and meditation. .

Beachside Townhouse

R ARCHITECTURE

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary courtyard full sun xeriscape for spring in Melbourne with with privacy feature and decking.

His and Her House

FMD Architects

To address the narrow site and limited northern access a lush courtyard is thoughtfully brought to the heart of the house, establishing a sunlit centre around which daily activities can intuitively occur. Hugging the boundaries of the block, there is little presence to the house’s exterior form creating a house that is almost completely experienced from the interior, creating a place of respite & tranquility.

Capitol Hill

WEdesign Inc

Capitol Hill courtyard was transformed to include a small dining patio, creative arbors & lighting featuring a stained glass art piece, and a deck with a built in grill. Photos by Coreen Schmidt

Cashmere

FORM garden architecture

This is an example of a small contemporary courtyard formal garden in Christchurch with a retaining wall and decking.

Contemporary Landscape

Inspiration for a contemporary courtyard garden in New York with decking.

Laser Cut Metal Gates and Screens

Grand Ideas

These laser cut metal screens have been attached to the walls of this courtyard, creating a lovely vertical garden.
Inspiration for a small industrial courtyard shaded outdoor sport court in Brisbane with decking.

karrinyup courtyards

Cultivart Landscape Design

subtropical contemporary courtyards Perth Australian photos Peta North
Photo of a small contemporary courtyard partial sun garden in Perth with a water feature and decking.

Mediterranean Garden in San Anselmo, CA

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

This San Anselmo, CA landscape in Marin county was completely redesigned to replace a large portion of the thirsty lawn. I created curving paths and adjacent areas using decomposed granite (DG) and flagstone. The plantings include CA native plants and other drought tolerant plants chosen to provide year-round color and appeal. Something is always in bloom in this garden!

Mini-piscine dans un jardin de ville

La Nostra Secrets d’Intérieur

Jardin existant avant travaux (démarrage travaux) Crédits photos La Nostra Secrets d'Intérieur, toutes utilisations est strictement interdite
Inspiration for a contemporary courtyard full sun formal garden for summer in Marseille with with pond and decking.

Late afternoon light

Georgia Lindsay Garden Design

Inspiration for a small contemporary courtyard garden for winter in London with decking.

Courtyard Garden Design Ideas with Decking

Get Inspired by Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.